Amazing LA Race & Imogen Heap

As big fans of the TV show Amazing Race, and since our audition tapes were rejected 3 years ago, our family did the next best thing.  We signed up for the Amazing LA Race!!  Two guys in LA put this race/sight-seeing tour on where teams from 2-8 people use clues to get around the city of Los Angeles.  If you are ever in LA on a weekend and have 3-5 hours to spend, sign up for this fun and exhausting adventure.

As you can see from our matching attire, we were very into the 'team' concept and we were out to kill it.  Believe me, my family can be very competitive.

Sarah (brother's girlfriend), Brian (brother), Richie (brother-in-law), Erin (sister), Joan (mom), Mark (dad), Cheryl, Kyle (husband)

This is our team trying to figure out our first clue

I won't give away too many details in case any of you end up doing this event and it would ruin it, but a few tips:

1. 
   
   wear running shoes
2. 
   
   wear comfortable clothing
3. 
   
   have coins ready for the Metro and buy return tickets if possible
4. 
   
   have everyone carry a cellphone to prevent people from taking off and not being able to contact them
5. 
   
   don't take off too far from the group
6. 
   
   remember that you have more puzzles to do
7. 
   
   bring snacks and water and eat on the Metro (even though you are not supposed to, this is the only down time you have to do so)
8. 
   
   have FUN!!!

Well, our outcome was......2nd place out of 9 teams.  Now, some of you might think that is pretty respectable, but not for TEAM NINJA.  We analyzed and analyzed some more the mistakes we made, where we could have done something faster, smarter, better.  Especially since our time was 3:01 and the first place team was only 2:57, a mere 4 minutes ahead of us.  They are planning on starting a race down in Santa Monica next month, so we have firm goals to redeem ourselves and get 1st.

After the race we all headed over stinky and sweaty to CPK for dinner.  After that Kyle and I  went to the 24 Hour Fitness on Sunset and Vine where we showered and cleaned up before heading to the Greek Theatre for our Imogen Heap concert.  It was a great show and she really is very talented. 

House Projects

We have been doing a few projects around the house and making it our own.  We bought 3 pots a month ago and finally found the bamboo we have been looking for.

This is really called Horsetail Reed and not bamboo but we like to call it bamboo

I like the color of this James Walker Bougainvillea

Kyle bought this cool and compact pub table for the big empty space that was in our kitchen, it is perfect for breakfast

We painted the wall in our bedroom from this......

To this.......

We painted two walls in the family room from this.....

to this......

Happy Birthday Mom!

So, yesterday was my mom's birthday.  I won't say how old she turned but I think she looks quite young, although Kyle did accidently try to make her a decade older with the number of candles he put on the cake.

We had her and the rest of my family up to our house for dinner and cake.

Happy Birthday Mom!